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Maryland Lighthouse Challenge 2011


Please Read The Updates Below!

Join the Chesapeake Chapter and the lighthouse organizations of Maryland on September 17-18, 2011 for the 8th Annual Maryland Lighthouse Challenge. Visit the following Bay area lights during this two-day driving tour: Turkey Point, Concord Point, The Lightship Chesapeake, Seven Foot Knoll, Hooper Strait, Drum Point, Cove Point, Point Lookout, Piney Point and Fort Washington.  You do not have to visit all of the Challenge lights to participate in this educational and fun-filled event, and the lighthouses can be visited in any order.

The Challenge Rules are Simple

1. Obtain a Challenge brochure, or print out the driving directions/brochure in PDF format. 
2. Visit the nine lighthouses and 1 lightship noted above. (Or any number of the lights you choose to visit).
3. Collect the specially-designed commemorative souvenir from each.
4. Complete the visits within the designated hours of 8 am to 6:00 pm both days
5. Receive the “completion” souvenir at the last location IF you have visited all the others.
AND
6. Sign the Challenge Completion Sheet.

Chesapeake Chapter volunteers will be at each Challenge location to greet and assist you unless otherwise noted in the event brochure.

Challenge Brochure  

The brochure is available in PDF format and will include driving instructions from one light to the next (in either direction along the Bay) and other pertinent information including all anticipated fees.  Driving instructions will also be available in Word Format.

 Click here for the brochure!

 
Click here for the Directions!

Click here for Park Pass information for State & National Parks!

Chapter members will receive a copy of the brochure in with their summer newsletter.
 

2011 Bonus Lights

To View Offshore Sandy Point Shoal Light By Land and Blackistone Replica on St. Clement’s Island.

 If time permits, don't miss visiting one or both of our Bonus Lights.  First, is Sandy Point Shoal Lighthouse, visible offshore at the western terminus of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, with a closer view from Sandy Point State Park. This caisson-style lighthouse, representative of others that sit offshore, sits in close proximity to our state's capital - and home to the U.S. Naval Academy - Annapolis.

A boat ride from St. Clement's Island Museum at Colton's Point to St. Clement's Island will take participants to Maryland’s Birthplace and home to our second Bonus Light, Blackistone Replica.

VISITING THE BONUS LIGHTS DOES NOT COUNT TOWARD EVENT COMPLETION - but will earn participants two additional event souvenirs!

Important! Please plan to complete the Challenge (and collect your Completer Souvenir) at one of the NON-BONUS lighthouses.

RETURNING THIS YEAR - The Early Bird Special at Hooper Strait!

If you want to get a jump on your Challenge adventure, take advantage of our "Early Bird Special" at Hooper Strait Lighthouse in St. Michaels. You can pick up your event souvenir at this eastern shore location anytime between the hours of 10:00 am to 6:00 pm on Friday, September 16th.

Note: This lighthouse's early bird status on Friday, September 16th will not affect visitation hours there on Saturday the 17th and Sunday the 18th (8:00 am - 6:00 pm). See event brochure for more details! 

NEW THIS YEAR!  Add-On Bonus Cruise!

Thursday, September 15; Friday, September 16; and Monday, September 19.

Be the first Challengers EVER to view some of the Chesapeake Bay's more elusive offshore lighthouses.  Lighthouses on this tour include Hooper Island, Holland Bar, Solomon's Lump, Smith Point, Point Lookout, and Point-No-Point. 

See the Brochure for Details and Registration   

THIS CRUISE IS STRICTLY OPTIONAL AND DOES NOT COUNT TOWARDS EVENT COMPLETION - but will earn participants an additional event souvenir!

 

Challenge Special Guests

Once again we are lucky to have several special guests attending the 2011 Maryland Challege.  Artists, Writers and Photographers.  Click her to see who will be with us at various lighthouses!

 

Challenge FAQ's 

Once again the Chapter is including a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page in PDF and HTML format. 

 Click here for the FAQ's in PDF  or  

Click here to go to the HTML Page.

 

Challenge Lodging

We have been working with area hotels/motels for reduced rates.  Rooms will be limited and reservations MUST be made early.  

Click here for the Lodging listing!

 

Challenge Updates  September 14, 2011!

Anticipated Parking Issue in the Vicinity of Seven Foot Knoll – Saturday After 4:00

Please anticipate congestion and higher parking fees on Saturday after 4:00 at the (Seven Foot Knoll)Pier V ParkingGarage and surrounding area due to a concert that will be held at the Pier VI Pavilion.  The concert begins at 8:00, but parking in the area becomes harder to find after 4:00--and parking fees in the Pier V Garage and the closest parking lots go up to a $20+ flat rate fee beginning at 4:00 (as opposed to a half hour or hourly rate).

Best bet is to plan on visiting the downtown Baltimore location (Seven Foot Knoll and the other Baltimore Inner Harbor attraction, the Chesapeake Lightship) before 4:00 on Saturday if possible or anytime on Sunday.

If your plans do include an after-4:00 visit on Saturday, you will want to begin looking for parking in the vicinity of the Chesapeake Lightship.  The Lightship is located on Pier III, in the direct vicinity of the Baltimore Aquarium.  It is a short walking distance from Pier III to Pier V. (lightship to lighthouse).

Bonus Cruise Passport Stamps

We have had several inquiries about U.S. Lighthouse Society Passport Stamps for the Bonus Cruise.  We have stamps for five of the six cruise lights.  Due to the different “keepers” of these stamps, here are the locations where you’ll find them:

·         The Hooper Island Lighthouse Stamp will be available at the Hooper Island Lighthouse display table at the Calvert Marine Museum.

·         The Point Lookout Passport Stamp will be available at Point Lookout Lighthouse when you visit that lighthouse as one of the stops along the Challenge route.

·         The Point No Point, Smith Point and Solomon’s Lump Stamps will be available at Fort Washington Light at Fort Washington Park, another one of the stops along the Challenge route.

Road Closure in Southern Maryland

PEASE NOTE:

THIS CHANGE WILL NOT IMPACT DRIVING INSTRUCTIONS FROM LIGHTHOUSE TO LIGHTHOUSE IN THE CHALLENGE BROCHURE – THOSE DIRECTIONS WILL STAY EXACTLY AS WRITTEN!

We just wanted people to be aware of a road closure in Southern Maryland.  Route234 will be closed.  Anyone using their own alternate route from points south directly toBonus Blackistone Lighthouse - coming up from south 301 onto MD Route 234 - would be affected, so you will need to find an alternate route due to that road closure.

 Maryland Lighthouse Challenge Merchandise

 Be sure to look for our 2011 Challenge merchandise at select stops along the Challenge route. This year’s merchandise includes:  2011 T-shirts, Pins, Patches, Postcards and Maryland Lighthouse Challenge Baseball Style Collector Card sets!  Profit fromthe sale of these items goes towards helping fund this year’s event.

Looks like we are going to be blessed with beautiful weather!  We look forward to seeing everyone this weekend!

The Maryland Lighthouse Challenge Where you’ll be making Maryland Memoriesone lighthouse at a time!

 

Turkey Point Lighthouse Update

Attention Challenge Veterans!

Please note that parking has changed from previous years.  Parking will now be at Rouge's Harbor.  Be sure to follow signs carefully to the designated parking area once you enter Elk Neck State park.

There will be a $3.00 per carload fee to enter the park (lowered for the weekend from $3.00 per person!)  There will also be a $2.00 shuttle fee (per person) from the designated parking area to the lighthouse path.  Please realize this fee is necessary due to the remoteness of the lighthouse.  Turkey Point Light Station, Inc. must rent a bus and driver to make this site accessible due to the volume of Challenge participants.  (Kids under 12 ride for free).

Note:  There is a .8 mile hike out to the lighthouse once you reach the lighthouse path, but a handicapped shuttle will be available free of charge at that point for participants unable to make the walk.

There will be food and refreshments sold at this location, including the local Boy scout Troop's famous crab cakes - which are always a big hit with Challenge participants!

 

Attention U.S.L.H.S. Passport Holders

 There will be passport stamps available for all the Challenge lighthouses, including the Bonus Lights.

For those not currently participating in the passport program, there will be passports available to purchase at select stops along the Challenge route. You can learn more about the passport program at USLHS Passport Program or http://www.cheslights.org/passport.htm/ .

.Note: The passport stamp for the Sandy Point Shoal Lighthouse will be available at the Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse in Baltimore where you will be collecting your Sandy Point event souvenir.

Challenge Inquires: 

Check back often for updates, information on special guests and other pertinent information regarding the 2011 Maryland Lighthouse Challenge.

If you have any questions or comments, please direct them to Karen Rosage, Event Chair, at (410) 437-0741.

Challengers….Come September, be prepared to "See the Lights!"

Visit this website often for the most current updates.

 

2011 Challenge Sponsors

 

St Clement's Hundred

 

 


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